Meteorological alarm clock



p 1967 M. E. BOSQUET 3,315,462

METEOROLOGI CAL ALARM CLOCK Filed Sept. 4, 1963 INVENTOR.

MXMW FITTOENEYS F M EB 62 .LE 3 Yaurzce 057a United States Patent 3,315,462 METEOROLOGICAL ALARM CLOCK Maurice E. Bosquet, Les Hautes, Fontenelles 32, Rue des Fontenelles, Sevres, France Filed Sept. 4, 1963, Ser. No. 306,451 4 Claims. (Cl. 58-152) My invention relates to a meteorological alarm clock and more particularly to a device for controlling an alarm in response to a predetermined combination of an atmospheric condition and time.

There are many instances in which operations are performed or activities engaged in as determined by a combination of variables. For example, certain actions may be performed or devices controlled only under desired conditions of weather or the like and at a particular time. In the prior art operations are instituted or activities are engaged in by observing :both the time and the indication of a meteorological instrument or the like and then instituting the operation or activity upon the concurrence of the desired condition with the predetermined time. One example of such activities would be irrigation in agriculture. Another use of such a device would be to awaken a sleeper only upon the concurrence of desirable weather conditions with a predetermined time for engaging in sports activities.

I have invented an alarm system which produces a signal only upon the concurrence of a certain value of an atmospheric condition or the like and a predetermined time. My system accomplishes this result in a simple and expeditious manner. My system permits the setting of the particular value of the condition upon which the alarm is to produce its signal without appreciably affecting the operation of the condition responsive device.

One object of my invention is to produce an alarm system which operates only upon the concurrence of a certain value of a given condition and a predetermined time.

Another object of my invention is to provide a meteorological alarm system which is simple in its construction and operation.

A further object of my invention is to provide an alarm system in which the particular value of the condition to which the system is responsive can be set without affecting the operation of the condition responsive device.

Other and further objects of my invention will appear from the following description.

In general my invention contemplates the provision of a meteorological instnuiment having an element movable in response to changes in an atmospheric condition, which element is coupled to an alarm system to control signaling of the alarm in accordance with a predetermined com- 'bination of time and condition value. I so arrange my system as to permit the condition value to be set without appreciably affecting the operation of the condition responsive device or its cooperation with the alarm mechanisun.

In the accompanying drawings which form part of the instant specification and which are to be read in conjunction therewith and in which like reference numerals are used to indicate like parts in the various views:

FIGURE 1 is a schematic view of one form of my meteorological alarm clock.

FIGURE 2 is a schematic view of an alternative embodiment of my meteorological alarm clock.

FIGURE 3 is a schematic View of a further form of my meteorological alarm clock.

Referring now to FIGURE 1 of the drawings, the form of my alarm shown therein includes a stationary casing or housing which receives a drum 12 for rotary movement. The arrangement is such that the drum 12 remains in the position in which it has been placed until it is again set to a different position in a manner to be described. Drum 12 is formed with a platform 14 supporting a bellow 16 which is responsive to atmospheric pressure. As is known in the art, when the atmospheric pressure increases, bellows :16 contacts while when the atmospheric pressure decreases, bellows 16 expands.

I mount a rack 18 on the bellows -16 for movement therewith. Rack 18 engages a pinion 20 rotatably supported on a fixed shaft 22 carried by the housing 10. Pinion 20 carries for movement therewith a pointer 24 which cooperates with a scale 26 on the drum 12. I so arrange the parts of my device that the axis of the shaft 22 carrying the pinion 20 coincides with the axis of the drum 12. Owing to this arrangement, as I turn the drum 12 the relative position of the pointer 24 to the scale 26 at all times remains the same. Owing to this arrangement, I can set the condition value to which the system reacts without affecting the operation of the condition responsive device 16.

I provide the casing 10 with a fixed mark 28 adapted to cooperate with the scale 26. I may set the drum 12 to any particular value of atmospheric pressure by operating a knob 30 which drives a friction roller 32, for example, to position a predetermined scale mark adjacent the mark 28. When this has been done, there exists an angle A between a line XY passing through the axis of shaft 22 parallel to the direction of movement of the rack 20 and another line PQ passing through the axis of shaft 22 and through a fixed reference mark 28.

A pin 34 pivotally connects a rod 36 to pointer 24. I form rod 36 with a closed end tubular portion 37 which telescopically receives a piston 40 on the end of a rod 44. A light spring 38 around rod 44 bears between the end of portion 37 and a boss 42 or rod 44. When rod 36 moves to the right as viewed in FIGURE 1, the spring 38 compresses to permit a reduced diameter portion of rod 44 to telescope within a hollow portion of rod 36. When the rod 36 moves to the left as viewed in FIGURE 1, the spring 38 expands and ultimately, head 40 engages the end of portion 37 to cause the rod 44 to move to the left.

A pin 46 pivotally connects rod 44 to a lever 48 rotatably supported on a pin 50. Lever 48 carries a pawl 52 adapted to engage the teeth 54 of a ratchet wheel 56 carried by a shaft 58. Spring 38 is very light, being only as strong as is necessary to position pawl 52 in its locking position. Owing to the fact that it is weak, it will not appreciably affect the indication of pointer 24 when the pointer is to the right of mark 28.

Wheel 56 is part of the ringing mechanism of a mechanical alarm clock (not shown) of a type known in the art. Since clocks of this type are known in the art, its construction will not be described in complete detail. As is known in the art, when the Wheel 56 is released a wound spring (not shown) is permitted to drive a suitable ringing mechanism (not shown). The mechanism for controlling signaling of the alarm comprises a dog 66 supported in a frame portion 62 adapted to permit linear movement of the dog. A spring 64 biases the dog 60 for movement to a position at which it is out of engagement with the wheel teeth 54. The other end of the dog normally rides on the surface 66 of a cam 68 driven from the clockwork (not shown) through a differential 70. A knob 72 is adapted to drive differential 70 to set the cam 68 for a particular ringing time through a friction coupling indicated generally by the reference character 74.

As the cam 68 rotates in a clockwise direction as viewed from the top under the action of the drive of the clock, ultimately dog 60 moves into a recess 76 in the cam 68 under the influence of spring 64. This action normally permits the alarm to ring until the dog rides out of the recess to re-engage a tooth 54. A stop 78 supported in a frame portion 80 can be moved to a position at which it will engage a stop 82 on the dog to disable the alarm if desired.

From the structure thus far described, it will be apparent that the wheel 56 is prevented from turning both by the dog 60 and by the pawl 52. Thus, before the alarm can ring two events must occur. First, the time must be the set time determined by cam 68. Secondly, the atmospheric pressure must be such, relative to the setting of drum 12, that the pawl 52 is moved out of engagement with the wheel 56. I so arrange the parts of my mechanism that so long as pointer 24 is to the right of the scale marking of scale 26 opposite reference mark 28, spring 38 is compressed to hold pawl 52 in a position at which it can engage the wheel 56. Now, as the atmospheric pressure increases, pointer 24 moves to the left until it passes by reference mark 28. At this time, spring 38 is decompressed and it transmits the movement of pointer 24 to rod 44 to pivot lever 48 to move pawl 52 out of engagement with the wheel 56 to permit the alarm to ring. I further so arrange my mechanism that before the set time is reached the major restraining force on wheel 56 is provided by the dog 60.

Referring now to FIGURE 2, in an alternative embodiment of my invention a bellows 84 carries a rod 86 pivotally connected by a pin 88 to a lever 90 supported on a pin 92. A spring 94 resiliently urges a brush 96 into engagement with one of a plurality of conductive segments 98, 100 and 102 separated by insulating segments 104. A plurality of conductors 106 connect the segments 98, 100 and 102 respectively to studs 108 adapted to be selectively positioned in notches 110 on a dial face 112 at locations corresponding to various times. A conductive pointer 114 carried by a shaft 116 driven by the timing mechanism (not shown) is adapted to engage the conductive studs at times corresponding to the locations of the studs. I connect a battery 118 or other source of potential in series with a ring coil 120 between the pointer 114- and the conductive rod 90. As is the case with the form of my invention shown in FIGURE 1, in FIGURE 2 two conditions must exist before the circuit to coil 120 is complete. First, the arm 114 must engage one of the studs 108 and brush 96 must engage that segment 98, 100 or 102 corresponding to the stud which is engaged by arm 114. Thus, a predetermined combination of the condition sensed and time must exist before the alarm can ring. The adjustment in this case can readily be made by changing the position of a conductive stud.

Referring now to FIGURE 3, I have shown a further form of my invention in which I arrange the alarm to ring at a particular time but in which the tone of the :alarm is varied in accordance with the atmospheric pres- :sure existing at the time the alarm rings. This arrange- ;ment is similar to that illustrated in FIGURE 2 except :that I employ a single conductive stud 108 and I connect three different ringing coils 122, 124 and 126 between the stud 108 and the respective segments 98, 100 and 102. Thus, when brush 114 under the action of the timing mechanism engages the stud 108, the alarm will ring with a tone which is determined by that particular segment 98, 100 or 102 which is engaged by brush 96.

In operation of the particular form of my system shown 'in FIGURE 1, I operate the knob 72 to set the disk 68 to a time corresponding to that time at which I desire the alarm to signal. I then actuate knob to drive the drum 12 to position an indicator 26 adjacent reference mark 28 to set the system for the predetermined value of atmospheric pressure atwhich I desire the alarm to signal. Now, as disk 68 rotates in clockwise direction as viewed from the top thereof, ultimately dog 60 moves into the recess 76 under the action of spring 64. If at this time the atmospheric pressure is at or above the value for which the system has been set, pawl 52 will be out of engagement with wheel 56 and the alarm mechanism is free to ring. If, however, the indicator 24 is at a position corresponding to a lower pressure value than that desired, the alarm will not be permitted to ring.

It will readily be appreciated that I may, if desired, arrange my system to permit the alarm to signal when the pressure is equal to or less than the set pressure rather than when it is equal to or greater than the set pressure. It will further be appreciated that if desired I ray arrange my system to be responsive to any other condition than pressure such, for example, as temperature or the like.

In operation of the form of my invention shown in FIGURE 2, when the brush 114 engages one of the segments 108 which is connected to a segment 98, or 102 being engaged -by the brush on arm 90, a circuit is complete to energize coil 120. It will be appreciated from the explanation given hereinabove that this corresponds to a certain combination of time and pressure.

In operation of the form of my invention shown in FIGURE 3 at a particular time brush 114 engages the element 108. At this time, one of the coils 122, 124 or 126 will be energized depending upon which one of the segments 98, 100 and 102 is energized by the brush on arm 90.

it will be seen that I have accomplished the objects of my invention. I have provided an alarm system which operates only in response to a predetermined combination of time and condition to which the system is responsive. I so arrange my system that the particular value of the condition at which the system is to operate can readily be set without affecting either the operation of the condition responsive device or its cooperation with the alarm mechanism. My system is simple in construction and expeditious in operation for the result achieved thereby.

It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and subcombinations. This is contemplated by and is Within the scope of my claims. It is further obvious that various changes may be made in. details within the scope of my claims without departing from the spirit of my invention. It is, therefore, to be understood that my invention is not to be limited to the specific details shown and described.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1, An alarm system including in combination alarm means adapted to produce a signal, first releasable means for normally disabling said alarm means, means for releasing said first releasable means at a predetermined time, second releasable means for normally disabling said alarm means, means connecting both said releasable means to said alarm means, means comprising a movable member responsive to a certain atmospheric condition, coupling means comprising interengageable elements connected respectively to said movable member and to said second releasable means, and means mounting said interengageable elements for movement toward each other in response to movement of said member in one direction to release said second releasable means at a particular value of said condition to cause said alarm means to produce its signal upon the concurrence of said predetermined time and said particular value of said atmospheric condition and for idle movement away from each other in response to movement of said member in the other direction.

2. An alarm system including alarm means for producing a signal, first releasable means for normally disabling said alarm means, means for releasing said first releasable means at a predetermined time, second releasable means for normally disabling said alarm means, means connecting both said releasable means to said alarm means, a support, a condition responsive device adapted to move rectilinearly in response to a change in said condition, means mounting said device on said support for rotary displacement around an axis, a scale of various values of said condition carried by said support, an indicator, means comprising a pinion mounting said indicator for movement around said axis with reference to said support, a rack carried by said device for driving said pinion in response to movement of said device, means for positioning said device mounting means to set said indicator to occupy a certain position with reference to said support at a given value of said condition, coupling means comprising interengageable elements connected respectively to said indicator and to said second releasable means, and means mounting said interengageable elements for movement toward each other in response to movement of said indicator in one direction to release said second releasable means at said given value of said condition to cause said alarm means to produce its signal upon the concurrence of said predetermined time and said given value of said condition and for idle movement away from each other in response to movement of said indicator in the other direction.

3. An alarm system including alarm means for producing a signal, a first releasable means for normally disabling said alanm means, means for releasing said first releasable means at a predetermined time, second releasable means for normally disabling said alarm means, means connecting both said releasable means to said alarm means, a support, a condition responsive device, means mounting said device on said support for rotary displacement around an axis, a scale of various values of said condition carried by said support, an indicator, means mounting said indicator for movement around said axis with reference to said scale, means coupling said device to said indicator to drive the latter in response to change in said condition, means for moving said device mounting means relative to said support to set said indicator to occupy a certain absolute position at a given value of said condition, coupling means comprising interengageable elements connected respectively to said indicator and to said second releasable means, and means mounting said interengageable elements for movement toward each other in response to movement of said pointer in one direction to release said second releasable means at said given value of said condition to cause said alarm means to produce its signal upon the concurrence of said predetermined time and said given value of said condition and for idle movement away from each other in response to movement of said indicator in the other direction.

4. An alarm system including alarm means for producing a signal, first releasable means for normally disabling said alarm means, means for releasing said first releasable means at a predetermined time, second releasable means -for normally disabling said alarm means, means connecting both said releasable means to said alarm means, an arcuate scale, an indicator, means mounting said indicator for movement about an axis with reference to said scale, a condition responsive device, means coupling said. condition responsive device to said indicator to drive the same in response to changes in said condition, means mounting said condition responsive device for movement around said axis to permit said indicator to be set to occupy a certain absolute position at a predetermined value of said condition, coupling means com prising interengageable elements connected respectively to said indicator and to said second releasable means, and means mounting said interengageable elements for movement toward each other in response to movement of said pointer in one direction to release said second releasable means at said given value of said condition to cause said alarm means to produce its signal upon the concurrence of said predetermined time and said given value of said condition and for idle movement away from each other in response to movement of said indicator in the other direction.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 362,222 5/1887 Mackert et a1 116-70 507,959 10/1893 Wyman 58-19 525,273 8/1894 Logan 116-70 937,232 10/1909 Gage 58-225 1,749,494 3 1930 Luckey 73-3 87 2,435,066 1/1948 Barsh 340-266 2,510,402 6/1950 Johnson 73-387 2,734,189 2/ 1956 Trotzmuller 340-380 3,185,976 5/1965 Goyon 340-266 FOREIGN PATENTS 97,671 7/ 1897 Germany.

RICHARD B. WILKINSON, Primary Examiner. LEO SMILOW, Examiner. G. F. BAKER, Assistant Examiner. 

1. AN ALARM SYSTEM INCLUDING IN COMBINATION ALARM MEANS ADAPTED TO PRODUCE A SIGNAL, FIRST RELEASABLE MEANS FOR NORMALLY DISABLING SAID ALARM MEANS, MEANS FOR RELEASING SAID FIRST RELEASABLE MEANS AT A PREDETERMINED TIME, SECOND RELEASABLE MEANS FOR NORMALLY DISABLING SAID ALARM MEANS, MEANS CONNECTING BOTH SAID RELEASABLE MEANS TO SAID ALARM MEANS, MEANS COMPRISING A MOVABLE MEMBER RESPONSIVE TO A CERTAIN ATMOSPHERIC CONDITION, COUPLING MEANS COMPRISING INTERENGAEABLE ELEMENT CONNECTED RESPECTIVELY TO SAID MOVABLE MEMBER AND TO SAID SECOND RELEASABLE MEANS, AND MEANS MOUNTING SAID INTERENGAGEABLE ELEMENTS FOR MOVEMENT TOWARD EACH OTHER IN RESPONSE TO MOVEMENT OF SAID MEMBER IN ONE DIRECTION TO RELEASE SAID SECOND RELEASABLE MEANS AT A PARTICULAR VALUE OF SAID CONDITION TO CAUSE SAID ALARM MEANS TO PRODUCE ITS SIGNAL UPON THE CONCURRENCE OF SAID PREDETERMINED TIME AND SAID PARTICULAR VALUE OF SAID ATMOSPHERIC CONDITION AND FOR IDLE MOVEMENT AWAY FROM EACH OTHER IN RESPONSE TO MOVEMENT OF SAID MEMBER IN THE OTHER DIRECTION. 